Friday, June 25, 2010

URGENT: warning re. increased police powers near the security zone

June 24, 2010 - 5:01pm | by movementdefenceUnder the Ontario Public Works Protection Act, the area inside and within 5 metres of the security perimeter (as seen on this map: http://www.g8-g20isu.ca/g20/resources/10-06-11-map.pdf) has been designated as a ‘public work’ from June 21st to 28th, 2010.

This means that police officers have the power to require anyone entering or attempting to enter or approaching the public work “to furnish his or her name and address, to identify himself or herself and to state the purpose for which he or she desires to enter the public work, in writing or otherwise”.

The police may also “search, without warrant, any person entering or attempting to enter a public work”. The police can also search “a vehicle in the charge or under the control of any such person or which has recently been or is suspected of having been in the charge or under the control of any such person or in which any such person is a passenger”.

Finally, the police “may refuse permission to any person to enter a public work and use such force as is necessary to prevent any such person from so entering”

Police may arrest, without warrant “any person who neglects or refuses to comply with a request or direction of a guard or peace officer, or who is found upon or attempting to enter a public work without lawful authority.”

Neglecting or refusing “to comply with a request or direction made under this Act by a guard or peace officer” or if you are a person found upon a public work or any approach thereto without lawful authority means you could be found guilty of an offence and be liable to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two months, or to both.

Details of the geographic limitations are here: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2010/elaws_src_regs...Read the Public Works Protection here: http://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/stat/rso-1990-c-p55/latest/rso-1990-c-p...